Twenty eight Democratic U.S. Senators, led by U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), are calling for a formal Department of Defense investigation into what they described as alarming reports of fraudulent, wasteful and abusive practices by Halliburton in providing food to U.S. troops in Iraq, RAW STORY has learned.

In May, despite concerns by the Army's own auditors about billing practices, the firm received a $72.2 million performance bonuses for its work in Iraq. The bonus was the largest ever received by the firm.

Halliburton has billed the government more than $10.5 billion to date under a contract to provide aid for the military in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

The Democrats' release, issued by Sen. Dorgan, follows.

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In a letter to Rumsfeld released Wednesday, the Senators cited testimony received at a Democratic Policy Committee (DPC) hearing Dorgan chaired June 27, at which a range of abuses by Halliburton were cited, including:

 Serving food to American troops that was outdated by as much as a year or contaminated by bullets and shrapnel. When the foods condition was called to the attention of Halliburton supervisors, witnesses said, workers were instructed to use it anyway.

 Serving 10,000 meals but deliberately billing the government for at least 20,000 meals, every day at one dining hall, at one base.

 Instructions from Halliburton managers that workers were not to speak to government auditors

We trust you will find this testimony as alarming as we do, the Senators wrote. The testimony demands an immediate and full investigation.

Witness Rory Mayberry, a former food production manager at Halliburton subsidiary KBR, testified that troops were given food that had expired as much as a year earlier. He described a scene in which, after a convoy was ambushed, he and other employees were instructed to remove the bullets and shrapnel from the food supplies and serve them to U.S. soldiers.

Halliburton also charged the U.S. government for tens of thousands of meals that were never served. Mayberry testified that Halliburton managers instructed employees not to speak to government auditors, and punished those who did by sending them to more dangerous camps.

Our troops deserve to eat their dinner without worrying it is spoiled or contaminated with bits of shrapnel, Dorgan said. Halliburton was given a sweetheart deal here, and theyve done nothing but take advantage of it. I implore Mr. Rumsfeld to look into this matter immediately.

Let's see... if they are cheating us, then I am sure Bush will allow them to cheat us as much as Clinton did. Remember all those no bid, exclusive contracts Clinton gave Halliburton? but then again, this is all a game with you... huh poseur?

I suppose you are right. Since Clinton cheated the government and taxpayers and pocketed the money, that gives Bush the right to do the same thing. Of course, the real winner is Cheney, who makes out like a bandit in both cases.
I am quite sure that will be Bush's defense of Rove: "If Clinton got away with perjury, why can't Rove? Let's equal things up here! One good crime deserves another!"

I suppose you are right. Since Clinton cheated the government and taxpayers and pocketed the money, that gives Bush the right to do the same thing. Of course, the real winner is Cheney, who makes out like a bandit in both cases.
I am quite sure that will be Bush's defense of Rove: "If Clinton got away with perjury, why can't Rove? Let's equal things up here! One good crime deserves another!"

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exactly....cheeny made money under clinton and resigned under bush..............shhhhhhhhhhhhh cheneey is a left wing mole

exactly....cheeny made money under clinton and resigned under bush..............shhhhhhhhhhhhh cheneey is a left wing mole

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It's sort of sad that there is no originality in the DNC. They just go in circles revisiting the same old witchunts, attempting to fabricate new accusations that will go nowhere, as usual. Was only a matter of time that Cheney's name got dragged in.

It's sort of sad that there is no originality in the DNC. They just go in circles revisiting the same old witchunts, attempting to fabricate new accusations that will go nowhere, as usual. Was only a matter of time that Cheney's name got dragged in.

Unfortunately, there is no other company that can perform the services that Haliburton can at the price Haliburton offers. I say "unfortunately" because competition lowers prices, which would be good for the government. If Haliburton is billing for goods/services not specified in its contract, it ought to be punished accordingly. However, since they are basically a monopoly (because no other company has come forward to try and compete) they won't ever have their contract terminated, and so they have no real reason to modify any wrong behavior.

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